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Latest revision as of 12:30, 22 January 2024

2 May 1840 — Letter from Victor Poupinel to Peter Dillon

Translated by ChatGPT, January 2024.

According to two summaries by Poupinel, APM 2276/11653; summarized in EG, n. 29. Edited in CS1 doc. 159.

[Minute A]

Montée Saint Barthélemy 4, Lyons

To Captain Dillon, May 2, 1840

[Following text in English in the original]

Dear Sir Captain,

[1]

As I am dedicating some time to the study of the English language, I am responding on behalf of our superior to your letter of the 24th of last month, which was received the day before yesterday. It included another enclosure dated January 25. We are very sorry, dear Sir, that it could not reach us in a timely manner.

[2]

Then two priests and two brethren of our Society went away from Brest to New Zealand in a French man of war named la corvette l’Aube.

[Original text of the following in French]

[3]

At the same time that you were making efforts with the French government to obtain the position of consul in New Zealand, we, on our part, wrote several times to Marshal Soult, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, urging him to appoint a consul in the interest of France and the mission. Several influential individuals made the same request. The Marshal was very concerned about New Zealand affairs; nevertheless, the appointment of the consul was postponed. We do not know the interest the new minister has in this matter, and it is currently impossible for us to make further inquiries.

[4]

We are pleased that you addressed the matter to Princess d'Orléans; she has an interest in the mission, and even more so does the queen. We have also asked her to obtain the appointment of the consul. I am convinced, Captain, that your nomination to this position, well-deserved due to your past services, would be very advantageous to our mission.

[5]

We can never thank you enough, Captain, for the powerful protection you have granted to Bishop Pompallier. Now he is achieving great success. He has received other missionaries than those who passed through London. He is greatly loved by the people, who are embracing our holy religion in large numbers.

[6]

We are truly grateful that you informed us of the happy arrival of our missionaries in Sydney. We are not surprised that they are pleased with their captain. I must tell you that we all regret the difficulties that our missionaries caused you last year. However, they may be excusable. We forgot to give them a copy of the letter written to you. Imagine the embarrassment one faces in a country whose language and customs are unknown. Furthermore, they were misled by a person who gained their trust. But rest assured, sir, that Dr. Heptonstall had nothing to do with the plan suggested to them to change ships. They themselves, in recounting this misunderstanding, told us how sorry they were about it. You have so many rights to our gratitude that it is truly unfortunate that we have caused you trouble in this circumstance. I hope your plans are crowned with success in the interest of France and our mission.

[7]

I thank you again for all the information you kindly provide us. At present, we have nothing to send to Bishop Pompallier.

[Original text of the following in English]

[Minute b]

To Captain Dillon 2nd May 1840

The beginning is on another sheet.

[8]

When you solicited near the French government the nomination to the consulship in New Zealand, for our own side we wrote several times to the marshall Soult, then a minister of foreign affairs, in order to induce him to name a consul for the advantages of France and catholic mission. Several powerful persons solicited in the same sense. The marshall desired ardently the progress of catholic missionaries in Oceania, nevertheless the nomination of consul was adjourned. We do not know what the new minister thinks of this affair; and we now cannot solicit this nomination near the government.

[9]

However we are glad that your postulations were directed to the princess d’Orléans, for she and the queen take a great liking to the mission of the Bishop Pompallier. Therefore upon our recommendation some persons were to induce the queen to obtain this nomination. We shall be happy if our letters can be useful to you, and I am very much inclined to think, sir captain, your nomination to this consulship which your precedent services deserve so well, would be very advantageous to our dear mission.

[10]

We shall never be sufficient in returning you thanks you for the great protection granted by you to the bishop Pompallier, especially in the first beginnings of his mission. Now he does great progress. In the month of June he received three missioners and three catechist brethren. Now he is very much loved by savage, and a great number of tribes in the whole northern turn catholics.

[11]

Accept, sir captain, our sincere thanks for having announced to us the happy arrival of our missioners at Sydney. Their satisfaction of the captain Mr Nicholls does not at all surprise us, for they were already very contented with at the Cape verde Islands.

[12]

Now, sir captain, I shall say you how much angry we are all for the disagreements caused to you last year at the occasion of our missionaries. They were in the wrong, yet their fault perhaps deserves some excuses. Their departure from Lyons did in such a hurry that I forgotten to give them a copy of the letter written to you; and so they put in their head that they were yet in liberty. Besides a foreigner is in a great perplexity in a country of which he does know neither language nor customs.

[13]

Unhappily at their arrival they were mistaken by somebody who obtained their confidence by his magnific promises. But think, sir captain, the reverend doctor Heptonstall entered not at all in the design of choosing an other ship. Our missionaries themselves were very sorry of this mistake. Your tittles to our gratitude were so numerous, it is very sad that you were again troubled for us. I wish then with all my heart that your designs may have a good issue in the interest of France and our dear mission.

[14]

Thanks you for all the information you give us. Presently we have nothing to transmit to the bishop Pompallier. I send my letter by the medium of the French embassy in London. Our superior presents you his most humble respects and very sincere thanks.

[Original text in French]

[Summary]

[In the margin]

To Captain Dillon, in London.

29. — Lyon, May 2, 1840.

[15]

Mr. Dillon was informed about the efforts made to obtain a consul in New Zealand and that these could not be repeated. The reason was given for the intention of the four missionaries who left in May 1839 via London to change ships.

Signed: Poupinel, Secretary.